Wish list for television recording

ABSTRACT

A viewer can enter into a wish list a show listed on an electronic program guide (EPG) that is being shown on a channel not subscribed to by the viewer. Should the show later become available on a subscribed-to channel, it is automatically recorded.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/299,318,filed Nov. 19, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,738,773, from which priority isclaimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to television systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern digital television systems can be programmed to record broadcastcontent, including broadcast digitized content, that is received over asatellite link or cable link. The content typically includes televisionprograms and accompanying commercials, and once programmed, therecording device of a system records the desired shows.

Currently, among other methods a viewer can use the electronic programguide (EPG) of a TV to record a show that is listed on the EPG, assumingthat the show is on a subscribed-to channel. But if the show is on annon-subscribed-to channel, it can't be recorded, of course, even if it'slisted on the EPG. Should the show later become available on asubscribed-to channel, the viewer must notice it and cause the show tobe recorded, even if it is many months in the future. As recognized bythe present invention, this is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for recording televised content includes a local processor anda television coupled to the local processor. The system also includes asource of television show content communicating content to theprocessor. A viewer of the television can add a show on a channel notsubscribed to by the viewer to a wish list such that the processorcauses the show to be recorded when it becomes available on a channelsubscribed to by the viewer.

In a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the processor causes the viewerto be alerted when show has been recorded. A remote control device canbe associated with the processor so that the show can be added to thewish list by manipulating the remote control device to enteralpha-numeric characters representing the name of the show. Or, the showcan be added to the wish list by manipulating the remote control deviceto select the show as it is displayed on an electronic program guide(EPG) of the television.

In another aspect, a method for providing broadcast content to a viewerincludes selecting, from a non-subscribed channel, a show desired to berecorded, and then automatically monitoring an electronic program guidefor the show. The show is automatically recorded when it becomesavailable on a subscribed-to channel.

In still another aspect, a television system is configured for receivingan electronic program guide (EPG) that lists at least one channelsubscribed to by the system and at least one channel that is notsubscribed to by the system. The system includes a television, aprocessor associated with the television, and a data entry deviceassociated with the processor. The processor is programmed to receiveinput from the data entry device representing a wished-for show on thechannel not subscribed to by the system. The processor is furtherprogrammed to record the show when it becomes available on the channelsubscribed to by the system.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in Which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an EPG with drop-down menu for adding ashow to a wish list; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the logic of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 1, cable or satellite television (TV) system10 is shown that includes a broadcast programming/content source 12,sometimes referred to as a “head end” of a service provider. The source12 includes a processor 14, which could be embodied in a media serverfor providing in a broadcast or on demand movies, television shows, andother programming content that may be obtained from a head end datastorage 16. The source processor 14 may also provide additional contentthat is available on the Internet 18. It is to be understood that thesource 12 includes an appropriate transmitter for broadcasting contentin accordance with cable, satellite, or other broadcast principles knownin the art.

The system 10 also includes plural viewer television systems, only oneof which is shown in FIG. 1 for convenience of disclosure. Accordingly,a viewer's television 20 is provided that may be coupled to one or morelocal processors 22 for undertaking the present invention. The localprocessor 22 may be embodied in a personal digital recorder that can beimplemented as personal video recorder (PVR), in a separate orintegrated set top box 24, or other recording device. If desired, all ofthe viewer components shown in FIG. 1 may be housed together, or theymay be separate components as shown.

The preferred, non-limiting set top box 24 can provide bi-directionalcommunication over a transmission path 26 with the source 12, in thecase of a cable-based system 10. In other embodiments, bi-directionalcommunication can be effected using asymmetrical communicationtechniques such as dual communication media—one for the uplink and onefor the downlink. Specifically, content can be received from the source12 over the path 26, which might be a satellite link, whilecommunication from the local processor 22 to the source 12 can beprovided via the Internet 18.

Accordingly, the source processor 14 can be coupled by the transmissionpath 26 to the local processor 22. The transmission path 26 may include,for example, a conventional coaxial cable network, a fiber optic cablenetwork, telephone system, or a twisted pair. Or, as mentioned above thetransmission path 26 may be wireless, in which case it can include asatellite communication system, a radio frequency (RF) system, amicrowave system, other wireless systems, a combination of wired andwireless systems or any of a variety of known electronic transmissionmediums. In the case of a cable television networks the transmissionpath 26 is commonly realized at the subscriber's premises as a coaxialcable that is connected to a suitable cable connector at the rear panelof the STB 24. In the case of a Direct Satellite System (DSS), the STB24 is often referred to as an Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD). In thecase of a DSS system, the transmission medium is a satellitetransmission at an appropriate microwave band. Such transmissions aretypically received by a satellite dish antenna with an integral LowNoise Block (LNB) that serves as a down-converter to convert the signalto a lower frequency for processing by the STB 24.

The TV 20 may be a digital television having a video display 28 fordisplaying programming, an EPG as shown in FIG. 2, etc. The STB 24 maybe coupled to the TV 24 and various other audio/visual devices 26 andInternet Appliances by all appropriate interface, which may be anysuitable analog or digital interface. In one embodiment, the interfaceconforms to an interface standard such as the Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard. In addition to the localprocessor 22, the preferred non-limiting STB 24 may include memory suchas Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory,mass storage such as a hard disc drive, floppy disc drive, optical discdrive or may accommodate other electronic storage media, etc. Suchmemory and storage media are suitable for storing data as well asinstructions for programmed processes for execution on the localprocessor 22, in accordance with principles set forth below. Also, theSTB 24 may include circuitry suitable for audio decoding and processing,as well as the decoding of video data compressed in accordance with acompression standard such as the Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG)standard and other processing to form a controller or central hub. Innon-limiting embodiment, the STB 24 may be coupled to or incorporatedevices such as a personal computer, video cassette recorder, camcorder,digital camera, personal digital assistant and other audio/visual orInternet related devices.

In addition, a data transport architecture, such as that set forth by anindustry group which includes Sony Corporation and known as the HomeAudio-Video Interoperability (HAVi) architecture may be used to enableinteroperability among devices on a network regardless of themanufacturer of the device. This forms a home network system whereinelectronic devices and Internet appliances are compatible with eachother. The preferred non-limiting system 10 can run all operating systemthat is suitable for a home network system such as Sony Corporation'sAperios™ real time operating system.

As mentioned above and as shown in FIG. 1, the local processor 22 may becoupled to all independent service provider (ISP) host by a suitableInternet-based connection including dial-up connections, DSL (DigitalSubscriber Line) or even the same transmission path 26 described above(e.g. using a cable modem) to, thus, provide access to services andcontent from the Internet 18.

If desired, a remote control device 30 preferably having a keypad 32 canbe provided for controlling the TV/STB in accordance with means known inthe art. The keypad 32 can be used to input alpha-numeric data to theTV/STB in accordance with disclosure below, and it can be incommunication with the local processor 22. Other data entry devices canbe used, including without limitation keypads on the television itself,voice input devices, keyboards, mice, trackballs, touchpads, etc. thatcan be coupled to the processor 22.

Now referring to FIG. 2, an EPG 34 can be displayed on the television 20to list channels (only three channels shown for ease of disclosure) thatare available from the source 12. Not all the listed channels, however,might be subscribed to by the user of the television 20. That is, somechannels on the EPG 34 might be non-subscribed in that they are notchannels authorized for clear viewing on the user's cable or satelliteaccount. However, other channels on the EPG are subscribed to in thatthey are chancels that are authorized for clear viewing on the account.

Assume for disclosure purposes that channels 100 and 200 in FIG. 2 aresubscribed-to channels, and that channel 300 is not subscribed to.Assume further that the viewer wishes to record show 5, listed as beingcarried on the non-subscribed to channel 300. The user may position acursor over the name of the show on the EPG 34 using, e.g., the remotecontrol device 30 and press “enter” or otherwise highlight or indicate adesire to add the show to a wish list or other data structure, such as atable in a database. If desired, that action call cause a drop-down menu36 to appear that asks whether the viewer indeed wishes to add the showto the list. The viewer then indicates “yes” or “no” using the remotecontrol device 30. Alternatively, the viewer can manipulate the remotecontrol device 30 to enter alpha-numeric characters representing thename of the show.

The above selection is shown in FIG. 3 at block 38. Once the show hasbeen identified it is added, at block 40, to an electronically storedwish list that is available to the local processor 22. At block 42, thelocal processor 22 monitors the EPG 34 to ascertain if and when a showon the list might happen to be listed as being carried on asubscribed-to channel. When such an event occurs as indicated bydecision diamond 44, the logic records the show at block 46 when it isbroadcast on the subscribed-to channel. As indicated by the negativetest loop from decision diamond 44 back to block 42, the monitoring forshows on the wish list can continue as long as the viewer wishes.

If desired, an alert can be generated to inform the viewer that awished-for show has been recorded. The alert may consist of blinking thename of the show on the EPG, causing the EPG to be displayed at thepoint presenting the name of the show, etc. Audible alerts can also begenerated, as well as other types of visual alerts, such as simplemessages that might be presented on the screen 28 of the television 20by the local processor 22.

While the particular WISH LIST FOR TELEVISION RECORDING as herein shownand described in detail is fully capable of attaining theabove-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that itis the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and isthus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplatedby die present invention, that the scope of the present invention fullyencompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilledin the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordinglyto be limited by nothing other than the appended claims in whichreference to an element in the singular is not intended to means “oneand only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more”. Allstructural and functional equivalents to the elements of theabove-described preferred embodiment that are known or later come to beknown to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporatedherein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the presentclaims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to addresseach and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, forit to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element,component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to bededicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, ormethod step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element hereinis to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixthparagraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase“means for” or, ill the case of a method claim, the element is recitedas a “step” instead of an “act”.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing broadcast content to aviewer, comprising: selecting, from a non-subscribed channel, at leastone show desired to be recorded; automatically monitoring an electronicprogram guide for the selected show; and automatically recording theselected show when the selected show becomes available on asubscribed-to channel different from the non-subscribed channel.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the method is performed using a viewer'stelevision system associated with a user account.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the non-subscribed channel is a channel not authorized forviewing on the user account.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein thesubscribed-to channel is a channel authorized for viewing on the useraccount.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is performedusing a remote control device to enter alpha-numeric characters.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the selecting is performed by selecting ashow presented on an EPG.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the show isentered into a list, wherein the list contains shows to be recorded. 8.A system for providing broadcast content to a viewer, comprising: aprocessor operable to: select, from a non-subscribed channel, at_leastone show desired to be recorded, wherein the processor automaticallymonitors an electronic program guide for the selected show, wherein theselected show is automatically recorded when the selected show becomesavailable on a subscribed-to channel different from the non-subscribedchannel.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the selecting of the show isperformed using a remote control device.
 10. A television systemconfigured for receiving an electronic program guide (EPG) listingcomprising at least one channel subscribed to by the television systemand at least one channel not subscribed to by the television system,wherein the television system comprises: a television; and a processorassociated with the television, wherein the processor is operable to:receive input to select a show on the channel not subscribed to by thetelevision system; monitor the EPG to determine when the selected showis available on the channel subscribed to by the system; and record theselected show when the selected show becomes available on the channelsubscribed to by the system different from the non-subscribed channel.11. The system of claim 10, wherein a data entry device is associatedwith the processor capable of providing input to the processor, whereinthe data entry device is a remote control device.